Architectural Detail: Metal Patches on Old Wood Floors

Spotted on the floor of Mindy Marin 's renovated barn: metal patches on her old wood floor—the handyman's version of patchwork. Marin covered up the holes in her wooden floor with zinc patches cut to cover the size of the hole. The patches are easily hammered in with brad nails that typically have a smaller head than regular nails (before nailing them in, MIndy beat the edge so they had a worn-in, distressed look.
Photographs by Heidi Swanson .
Above: Mindy's renovated barn with zinc patches on the floor.
Above: Since wood is prone to expanding and contracting, metal patches work best on old wooden floors that have had time to settle.
For another genius wood floor idea, check out our post on Indigo Dyed Floors.